New Evidence for Seasonal Human Presence at the Early Mesolithic Site of Thatcham,Berkshire, England |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr., Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6, Canada;2. Istituto di Norvegia, Viale Trenta Aprile 33, I-00153 Rome, Italy;3. Norwegian Maritime Museum, Bygdøynesveien 37, N-0286 Oslo, Norway;4. Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;5. Division of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, PO Box 4950 Nydalen, N-0424 Oslo, Norway;6. Department of Archaeology, Conservation, and History, University of Oslo, PO Box 1008 Blindern, N-0315 Oslo, Norway;7. Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, PO Box 6762 St. Olavs plass, N-0130 Oslo, Norway;8. Via Pier Lombardo 5, I-20135 Milan, Italy;9. PACEA, University of Bordeaux, Bâtiment B8, Allée Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, CS 50023, 33615 Pessac cedex, France;10. Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO 1066 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway;1. Department of Anthropology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, United States;2. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Georgia Southern University, P.O. Box 8051, Carroll Building, Rm. 1003, Statesboro, GA 30460, United States |
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| Abstract: | Important new seasonal evidence has been derived from the early Mesolithic site at Thatcham, Berks based upon tooth development stages in dentally immature red deer (Cervus elaphus). Radiographs and visual examination of the developing mandibular molars and premolars have been used to provide an accurate indication of age at death by comparing them with modern known age specimens. Knowledge of their age when killed indicates at what time of the year humans were present at the sites. Determining whether a site was occupied seasonally or year round is critical to subsequent interpretations of human economic and social activity. For the first time clear seasonal evidence has been derived from this important early Mesolithic site. Based on this new line of enquiry there is strong evidence for winter killing red deer at the site. The winter evidence at Thatcham may indicate presence at the site by hunters during the winter months for the express purposes of killed red deer. Alternatively, and more likely, the site was visited for a variety of economic and social purposes at all times of the year. |
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